Transfer stamping machine



Nov. 11, 1952 F. c. KINGSLAND ETAL 2,617,224 TRANSFER STAMPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 POWER SUPPLY Fm. e 37 INVENTOR. SIDNEYA. K/N65LAND BYF/PANK C NGSLA/VQ azzyjmzzl Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSFER STAMPING MACHINE Frank C. Kingsland, Gates Mills, and Sidney A. Kingsland, Willoughby, Ohio Application December 21, 1949, Serial N 0. 134,166

Our invention relates to a machine, semi-automatic or automatic in its operation, particularly for the application of dry transfers to linen, fabrics, textiles, and cloth fabrics of any and every kind for marking same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a machine for the purpose of stamping names, marks, or character on linens, fabric, etc., for a dry transfer, by means of a heating element, with a built-in thermostat which maintains, at all times, when in operation, the proper temperature, or heat, in such element, required for making the transfer to the desired cloth or fabric.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type described herein that will provide the proper amount of pressure on the transfer at any position of the down stroke of the piston.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type previously described herein, having a switch, operated practically without any fatigue on the part of the operator, which switch is operated by a slight touch of the foot of the operator, and which switch controls the operation of the piston, to which the heating element is attached, for the marking operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of a type previously described herein,

which has a pressurestat to regulate the proper length of time the heating element is to be kept in contact with the transfer to properly mark the cloth, or fabric, and at the same time maintains the correct pressure exerted on the heating element by the piston at any point on the downward stroke of the piston.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type previously described herein which operates entirely by air pressure supplied by a unit built within the body part of desired design, or shape, of such element may be used, and a manifold for automatically removing the used transfer paper and moving it towards a receptacle at the rear of machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type previously described here- 9 Claims.

in witha safety switch for instantly stopping the downward stroke of the heating element at any point and instantly forcing such element and shaft back to their original positions, which machine may have an automatic counter to register the number of pieces of lines, fabric, etc., marked.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine that can be converted to automatic operation for the application of a transfer to the cloth, or fabric, to be stamped, the only manual operation required being the feeding of the cloth or fabric, to be stamped and the placing of the transfer on such cloth, or fabric.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type and design described previously herein mounted on rollers, or casters, so as to permit it to be moved easily from one place to another, particularly to move it to where a stock of cloth, or fabrics, are located instead of having to move all such stock to where the machine is located.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type and design'shown with means for changing such machine from a foot control to automatic operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type described which has a combined automatic interference and safety switch built in the body of the heating element which will permit the machine to operate only when the temperature of the heating element is proper, as predetermined, for correctly applying transfers.

Many other objects attainable by the use of this invention will become apparent by a reading of the description and a study of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the invention, or machine, partly sectional, taken on line |--l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cylinder and piston therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the five-way valve unit of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the automatic switch control of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation view, partly sectional, of the machine; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic working circuit diagram.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I refers to the complete machine, which is supported on four legs L equipped with rollers for easily moving the machine about. 2 refers to a back panel, or instrument board of cast metal). 3 is a main supporting frame of (preferably made 9 connects through fitting 26 with-a tube 8. that connects to and telescopically receives an extene, v sion tube 8A with an air-tight seal therebetween. The tube 8A moves with the pistonassembly and connects to a manifold, or blower tube. 18 at 25 is an air inlet fitting connected to port 32 and an air port for the cylinder 6. An air supply tube 4 light, usually green, to indicate when lit that the machine is ready for operation and the iron is at working temperature. 39 is a pressure indicating dial that connects to an air supply line. 40 is a counter to tally the number of pieces marked by the machine. H is a starting switch for the machine.

The device A, Fig. 3, represe n-ts a five way air valve forcontrolling the operation of the machine and the components thereof.

The wood base, or table, IA, may have wood sides 19b to enclose same partially. The panel 2 has an opening 18 provided therein to permit the tached to an iron [5, which acts to blow a used' transfer ofi the material immediately after the stamping or transfer action is "complete, I :as brought out in detail hereinafter. Air supply and exhaust tube i connects with inlet 25 to provide air for-operating the piston 21.: H is an inlet and exhaust air tube connected to outlet 24. I2 refers to supports fonsecuring the tube!) to the cylinder 4. 7 j

M are heat vanes. or deflectors suitably secured to the iron l5. I6 is a hand operated swi-tchlever pivotally carried bythe iron l for changing the cycle of operation of the machine to foot control, Or to autom atic, i as may be desired. I l is a conventional fitting o member, tor attaching the iron to theishait'l for movementtherewith and permits the iron to be easily removed from and secured to ,suchshaft. l9 is a safety switch bracket that extends across the ,front of the iron and is pivotally securedjthereto at its ends and which protrudes from the iron ,to contact the hand or hands of the operatonto instantly stop the descent of the iron 15in case the operatorshands are in such a position as to be in danger of beingcaught under the descending iron. Moving thebracket i9 upwardly returns the ironto its up position,. as described hereinafter. I3 is the base part of the iron If) that contacts a transfer to efiect a transfer action thereon. is aplate connecting the cooling vanes Hi to the heated base [3 of the iron .by

means of heat conductors 21A. 22 are electrical cords for providing current to form heat energy for the iron unit. 23 is a pad on the top surface of a wood base. (A of the machine upon which the material to be stamped is placedand is immediately underneath the iron [5 which is movable vertically by the piston rod '1. 33 is, an electric wire cable case for leads I26 and [21 that connect .to a control switch which has a contact point 34A extending down therefrom.. BA is a contact point on the automatic lever i8, located on the top thereof. By moving such lever to one position at a right angle to the iron i5, the contact point ISA will strike contactpoint 34A to close a circuit when the heating element, or iron, reaches its up position, so that it will automatically repeat its cycle, as described. By changing such automatic lever to its other position, parallel with the length of the iron, the machine will then repeat its cycle only by means of the foot pedal control by operator, as described hereinafter.

35 is a penetration regulator rheostat for "light? or heavy? material to be stamped, and 36 is a speed control rheostat for the cycle "of the machine to make it fast, or slow. 3'! is a used transfersto be blown off the table IA by the blower means previously described.

The diiierent items shown in the schematic circuit diagram (Fig. 6) are all standard equipment and are used as auxiliary to, and in conjunction with, the device of this invention.

. Circuit diagram,

In the foregoing specification, it should be noted that tne nve-way valve reierred to is a vaive which has two positions and that the valve'is positioned in one extremity or the other of its move ent by certain, solenoid control means provided therelor. I y y I Reference now should be had to the schematic circuit diagram shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In this figure it is seenthat two powersupply lines Hill and 19! are provided which supply electrical energy for operation of the entire apparatus of the invention. The lead connects through a lead 32 to a thermostat {03 that controls a switch I64. with the other side of the switch 104 being connected to a resistance heater unit, 405, that'is located in the iron l5 used in the device of the invention. The other side of the heating element hi5 connects back to the power supply lead 'lil'l so that when the main control switolr li is closed, electrical energy will be supplied to the'heat element I05 as long as the thermostat, 103 is closed. The signal light Slis provided in parallel relation to the thermostat 133 by, wires ml and H18 so that when the thermostat is open, the circuit there around is through the light, I06 and causes such light to be lit and indicate that the thermostat is open whereas when the thermostatis closed, it effects a short circuit around the light 106 and prevents operation of. the light. This'thermostat I03 is associated with the heater resistant unit; it5 fso that the thermostat is opened "by such heater resistorwhen' at. a predetermined temperature, such as about 400 F., so that heat energy will be supplied to the resistor I05 until'it reaches a predetermined temperature. When the thermostat'lil3 is open, the light 106 absorbs somuch energy that only a very low current flows through the register (95, and does not effectively heat same.

In starting up the "apparatus of the invention, it is, greatly desirable that the heater unit be retained in its up position until the device is ready for operation. Thus aso-called blocking thermostat I09 is provided for controlling a switch III]. This switch H6 is connected by a lead Hi to one, terminal of a solenoid coil or solenoid H2. The other terminal of the solenoid i [2 is connected by a lead I 3 to the power supply lead 161., Lead 11 4 connects the power supply lead [82 to the other terminal of the thermostat we so that when the blocking thermostat I09 is closed the solenoid I I2 is continuously energized and retains the five-way valve device in a fixed position to set up pressure in the cylinder 4 to retain the piston rod thereof in its up position.

When the heating resistance I05 of the iron ly open foot control switch or the automatic switch of the apparatus of the invention. For the so-called semi-automatic operation of the invention by use of the foot switch referred to hereinbefore, a foot controlled switch H5 is connected to the power supply lead I90 and connects to a lead IIB that connects inturn to one terminal of a second solenoid In that is associated with the two position valve for controlling the setting or operation thereof. The other terminal of the solenoid III connects through a lead II8 to the remaining power supply lead IIlI so that closing the switch I I5 instantaneously causes the solenoid III to be energized and moves the valve to its down position. Such position of the valve provides air pressure supply to the tube ID for forcing the piston rod downwardly of the cylinder in which it is slidably received and causes the iron head to move down into desired relationship with the goods on which a transfer is to be applied. Such pressure being transmitted to the conduit or tube It) also is carried to a conduit I28 which connects to a pressurestat I2I the pressure in and setting of which controls a switch I22. Thus when a predetermined pressure is set up in the line I and through it to the line I20, the pressurestat I2I will close switch I22. Such action occurs only when the pressure in the line I0 has forced the piston rod therein to move downwardly of the cylinder 4 to the bottom thereof. By controlling the setting of a valve I23 that is provided in the line I20 and has a variable escape, or relief orifice provided wherein, the rate of build-up of pressure in the pressurestat I2I can be controlled to a desired value. Control rheostat 35 controls the size of the orifice in the valve I23. Thus after the piston rod I has moved to its lower extremity, a certain predetermined time will elapse before the pressurestat I2I is actuated to close switch I22. Closure of the switch I22, which connects at one side to the power supply lead by a lead I24, closes a circuit through the effects actuation of the solenoid II2 by means of a connector lead I25. This actuation of the solenoid I I2 will cause the control plunger for the five-way two position valve to be changed so that pressure will be supplied to the line or conduit II and effect a lifting movement of the heater iron and associated elements. It has already been noted that the solenoid H2 is connected to the power supply lead I OI by a connector lead II3.

In case it is desired to have automatic operation of the apparatus of the invention, the switch element I 6 previously referred to herein is shown on the drawing in parallel relation to the foot control switch II5 so that when such switch is closed, as by properly positioning same plus movement of the heater iron and its associated means to its up position, the apparatus of the invention can be made to repeat its operative cycle, as desired by the operator of the machine. Leads I26 and I2? connect the automatic switch I6 in shunt or parallel relation to the foot control switch I I5.

Usually it is necessary to have a slight time lag between the raising of the heater iron member and the next downward stroke thereof, even on automatic operation of the machine. so that it is desirable to have a second pressurestat control provided in the apparatus of the invention and connected in the line I I. This pressurestatis indicated by the numeral I 28 and in turn controls a switch I29 that is provided in the lead I2'I so that a circuit only is closed through the automatic switch after a predetermined pressure has been built up in the lower portion of the cylinder 4. Rheostat 36 may control a vent orifice associated with the pressurestat I28 to regulate the time delay of the apparatus intermediate its operational cycles, similar to the connection and action of the valve I23.

As yet another feature of the apparatus of the invention, the safety control bracket I9 is connected to the switch III] to close same and effect an immediate energization of the solenoid II2 when the operators body or. person strikes this control bracket I9 on its downward movement. Thus an immediate lifting action is exerted upon the piston rod I and associated means. The tube 9 connects to the five-way valve A to receive the exhaust from such valve when the piston is being raised through action of the solenoid II2.

Air pressure is supplied to the system bya conventional air compressor pump I40 that is driven by a motor MI. Motor I4I connects to lead I 24 and by lead I42 to power supply lead IOI. Output of pump I 40 flows through tube I43 to the valve A. A counter device 40 is connected by lead I45 to lead I I6 and by lead I46 to lead IOI to indicate the number of operations of the machine.

It has been established that it takes the correct amount of pressure, correct temperature, and the correct length of time for a heating element to remain in contact with a transfer to make the desired transfer and mark the cloth or fabric to be marked. Such length of time is regulated by the time indicator rheostat 35, which has a dial with two different markings, namely, light and heavy, to control the length of time that the iron I5 remains in contact with the dry transfer and cloth or fabric to be stamped. A pressure dial 39 is connected directly to the air supply line I43 for the five-way air valve A. .By turning the knob 35 to heavy, the iron I5 is allowed to remain in contact with the "dry transfer somewhat longer than at light in order to properly mark such cloth.

The safety switch bar I 9 has a spring I 9A that is secured to and moves with the iron, and draws the bar I9 to a normal non-operative position. Either by a slight upward pressure or touch by the operator, or by contacting the hand of the operator when it acts as an emergency to prevent injury to such operator, the switch bar closes theswitch III] to immediately stop the downward stroke of the iron and returns it to its up position.

The operation of the iron or heating elements is further controlled by means of the combination automatic interference and safety switch III! located within the body of the heating element and which acts to automatically cause the machine to cease operating if for any cause the heating element has dropped to the point where it is impractical to correctly apply transfers. This switch will also prevent the operation of the machine in case the operator attempts to use the machine before waiting the period of time for the heating element to acquire its proper temperature.

It will be realized that friction is the only force normally preventing movement oi the, piston I, Conduit. 2GB of valve 7A., is an, exhaust line there: for. .Thecontrol arm t8 issuitably pivotally secured to the, movable ,head or iron assembly of the device .otthe invention.

This application is a continuation-impart of our-application Serial No. 16,108, filed March 20, 1948-, nowlabandoned. V

Having, thus described our invention, what we claim is; .Y Y a i lnInfla stamping machinea head member, a fluid cylinder having, a piston member slidably received therein and extending therefrom, said head member being secured to the said piston member, a controlvalve for said cylinder as a means for regulating the pressure within said cylinder, .anelectric. control means for changing the positionci said control valve, and a means in the form of a switch for actuating the said control means. i

w2 In astamping machine, ahead member carryingianelectric heater, an air operated cylinder having a piston member. slidably received there'- infandv extending therefrom, a head member secured lto andoperated by said piston member, a control valve for saidcylinder' as a means to regulate the pressure in saidcylinder, an electric controlrmeans for changing the position of the said control valve, and'a switch means for temporarily actuating said electric control means.

3.. In alstar'nping machine, a head member carryi'n'g an electric heater, an air cylinder having a. piston member slidably received therein and extending therefrom, said head member being secured'to said pistonniember and operated by said? piston member, a control valve for said cylinder as a. means to regulate. the pressure therein, said control. valve having a slidable' member therein and an electric control means for changing the position of.'the slidable member therein, a switch means carried by saidlhead member as a meansior actuating said electric control means, apressure operable means connected to said cylinder, anda. switch controlled by the said last named. means to actuate said electric control means. v

.4. In altransfer applying machine, a head element hav'ingia. switch associated therewith, a reciprocable'means secured to said head element as a means for positioning same, a pair of sole noids as a means for'controlling the position of the said reciprocable means, said solenoids having a power supplying means connected thereto and asafetybar pivotally carried by said element and connected to said switch to close same on the deflection of said safety bar, said switch being connected to one of said solenoid means in the power supply means therefor to energize said switch and move the said reciprocable means to a non-operative position upon deflection of said safety bar.

.5. In a transfer applying machine, a head element carrying a heater element and a thermostat controlled by the temperature of the said heater element, a switch controlled by the said thermostat and being normally closed until a predetermined temper-ature is reached, a reciprocable means secured to said heater element and positioning same, a solenoid for holding the said the first said switchbeing connected to saidsolenoi'd and'power supply-means to energize a part reciprocable means in a non-operating position,

a power supply means connected to said heater element and a master switch in the said power supply means for turning the machine on and oil,

of 's'aid'solenoid means to retain said reciprocable means in-a, given position untilsuch time as said heater, element'reaches a predetermined temperature;

6. In a machine of the general class described, a cylinder means, a piston slidably'positioned in said cylinder-means, a head member securedto said piston and positioned thereby,*air pressure supply means; valve means connecting-said air pressure supply means to'said cylinder means-to control the 'air supply thereto and the position ofsaid piston, electric means for controlling said valve means, a 'pressurestat connected to said cylinder means, and a switch'in the power supply circuit of said electric means and controlled *by said'pressurestat to be closed on a predetermined pressure being set up'in saidcylinder; V l

7., Ina machine of 'the general classdescribed, a head carrying an electric-heater element, a cyl inder having a piston disposed slidabletherein and extending therefrom, the said piston as -a means for positioning the said head, an air pressure distributor valve having'a reciprocablecontrol therein'and an air pressure supply means connected to said valve, conduits connecting said valve to said cylinder as a meansfor supplying air thereto to move said piston dependent upon the position of said valve; a pair of solenoids positioned adjacent opposite ends-of said control valve and; each adapted to move such control to dififerent operatin positions on the actuation thereof; an energizing circuit for one ofsaid solenoids for moving said head to an operating position, a switch in said circuit for temporarily cing same and affecting the-operating movement of said head, a pressurestat connectedto said cyl inder for receiving the pressure therein when said piston isoperativelypositioned, a switch"controlled by said pressurestat, and an electric power supply circuit connectingsaid last namedcircuit to said second solenoid for actuating same and moving said-control of said valve "whereby said piston and saidhead are moved to a non-operating position:

8. In a machine of the general class-as described, in claim 7, a second pressurestat' connected to a second portion of said'cylinder and controllin said first switch as a means to ac tuate said valve and move said head to an-operative position.

9. In 'amachine 'of the general' class as dc-- scribed in claim 8,'an' airexhaust tube connecting-sald cylinder to said-head member'to provide an air blast to the head'member at a desired time, and an interference switch controlled by th'etem perature of the saidheater element and connected to said means for preventing operation of said head member until said heater-element is at a predetermined temperature,

FRANK C. KINGSLAND; SIDNEY A. KINGSLAND:

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

